Cord-locking mechanism for venetian blinds



w. J. s TuBER ET Al. `2,175,977

CORD-LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Jan. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l MN i lL M x i WW Oct. 10, 1939.

0d. l0, W J, STUBER ET AL 2,175,977

CORD-LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 10, 19,39

4UNITED sTATEs l CORD-LOCKING RIECHANISM FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Walter J. Stuber and John J. DI Ienno, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Carey-McFall Co.,

Philadelphia, Pa., a vania corporation of Pennsyl- Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,257

8 Claims.

The mechanism forming the subject matter of l the present application constitutes an improvement upon the mechanism disclosed in the prior copending application, Serial No. 85,169 filed June 13, 1936, which issued as U. S. Patent No. 2,117,918, dated May 17, 1938; and the present application includes divisible subject matter from said copending application.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, highly eilicient, positively acting, locking device for the slat elevating and supporting cords or ropes of a Venetian blind.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a face view of the blind structure as viewed from the inside of the window frame at which the Venetian blind is hung;

`Fig. 2 is a detached end view of the cord controlling mechanism; g5 Fig. 3 is a side view of the structure lshown in Fig. 4 is a. sectional elevation taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of various elements of the locking mechanism.

As shown in Fig. lthe Venetian blind includes the usual head rail I which in the present case is removably supported by suitable brackets 2 and 3 secured to and at opposite sides respectively of the window frame 4. 'I'he head rail I is detachably secured in place on the supporting brackets 2 and 3 by latches 5, 5.

Depending from the underside of the headrail I, adjacent the opposite ends respectively thereo of, are blind supporting brackets 6 and 1 in which trunnions 8 and 9 of the slat tilting rail I0 are pivotally mounted. Carried by the bracket 6 is any suitable form of slat tilting mechanism I I which is operable by a chain or cord I2 for effecting pivotal movement of the tilting rail I0.

Secured to the tilting rail I0, adjacent the opposite ends respectively thereof, are the usual or any suitable form of ladder tapes I3, I3, by which the slats I4, I4 of the Venetian blind are carried in normally flat horizontal planes in vertically spaced relation to each other and through which said slats are caused to tilt, laterally in unison with the tilting of the rail I0, from the horizontal planes shown in Fig. 1 to various u angles with respect to the horizontal, in the usual manner. The ladder tapes I3, I3 are also attached at their lower ends respectively to a bottom rail I5.

Secured to the bottom rail I5, and passing upwardly through suitable openings formed in 6 the slats I4, I4, are the slat elevating and supporting cords I6 and I1. The cords I6 and I1 pass around suitable sheave wheels I8, I9 and 20 which are rotatably mounted in the head rail I.- The slat elevating and supporting cords I6 10 and I1 pass downwardly from the sheave 29, in the present instance, in a space between the bracket 1 and the bracket 3 in which the locking mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is located.

The locking mechanism forming the Subject matter of the present invention includes a substantially rectangular housing 26 having open upper and lower ends 21 and 28 respectively. The housing 26 is provided with ears or anges 20 29 and 30 by means ofwhich the housing is secured, in the present instance, to the bracket 1 which supports the one end of the tilting rail I0.

In the present instance, the ears 29 and 30 and the brackets 1 are perforated for the reception 25 of securing rivets 3|, 3|. It will be understoodv however, that the housing 26 may be secured to the bracket 1, or to any other suitable portion of the blind supporting mechanism, by spot welding or any other suitable means.

The housing26 comprises side walls 32 and 33 which are connected by a front wall 34, producing together with the bracket 1 a substantially rectangular hollow structure in cross section. 'I'he upper end of the housing 26 projects $5 above the bracket 1- into a suitable opening formed in the head rail I and provides a mounting for the double grooved rope sheave 20 which is rotatably mounted, between the side walls 32 and 33, on a pin 35 passing through openings 40 36, 36 formed in said side walls respectively.

Pivotally mounted on a transversely extending pin 31, which is supported at its opposite ends in the side walls 32 and 33, is a rope gripping catch or latch 38.4 The latch 38 comprises side 45 wings 39 and 40 which lie adjacent the side walls 32 and 33'respectively. The side wings 39 and 49 are integrally connected to their ends remotely situated with respect to the pivot 31 by a cross plate 4I which forms the outer free end 50 of the latch 38.

The wall 34 of the housing 26, opposite the free end 4I of the latch 38, is apertured at 42. The elevating ropes I6 and I1, after, passing around the sheave 20, pass downwardly between the inner face 43 of the wall 34 and the serrated face 44 of the plate 4I which forms the free outer end of the latch 38, and thence,- through an opening 45 formed in the outer end 46 of a latch operating element 41.

The latch operating element 41 is in the form of a double arm lever and is pivoted intermediate its opposite ends on a transversely extending pin 48 which is supported at its opposite ends in the side walls 32 and 330i? the housing 26. The short arm 49 of the latch operating lever 41, lies between the outer face 50 of the bracket 1 and the heel ends I, 5I of the latch 38 and engages said heel of said latch below the pivotal axis of said latch.

In operation, the slat elevating and supporting cords I6 and I1, as shown in Fig. 4, are adapted to be moved vertically in either direction, freely between the apertured wall 84 of the housing 26 and the serrated free end 44 of the latch 38. When the slats have been elevated or lowered to the desired position, swinging of the ropes I6 and I1 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, or to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, will cause said ropes to bear against the side of the rope opening 45 in the end of the long arm 46 of the latch operating lever 41, and to swine.` said lever about its pivot 48. 'I'he short arm 49 of the lever 41, by reason of its contact withl the rear or heel ends 5I of the latch wings 39 and 40 below the pivotal axis 31 of said latch, is caused to swing the latch 38 from its full line position in Fig. 4 to its dotted line position in said figure. whereby theropes I6 and I1 are pressed outwardly into and through the opening 42 formed in the wall 34 of the housing 2B and jamming said ropes between the upper acute or relatively sharp edge 52 of the opening 42 and the corresponding and cooperating serrations 44 on the outer free end of the latch 38. whereby. upon releasing the ropes I6 and I1 the impetus afforded by the weight of the slats I4 and rail I5 being transmitted through the ropes I6 and I1 to the latch 38, will tend to swing the free end of the latch upwardly to a -greater extent and thereby eiilciently retain the ropes IB and I1 will iirst swing the free end o! the latch 3B downwardly and subsequently permit the latch 38 tn swine` about its pivot 31 by gravitv. from its dotted line to its full line position shown in Fig. 4. whereupon the ropes I6 and I1 will again be permitted to operate freely between the inner surface 43 oi' the outev. wall 34 of the housing 26 and the serrated face 44 on the outer end of the latch 38.

The operation of the latch 38 into initial contact with the ropes IB and I1 by the lever 41 under control oi the ropes I5 and I8. is positive and eliminates chattering of the latch along the ropes before a positive grip is established therebetween. as has been the case in many Venetian ,blind structures where no such latch actuating element has been employed.

The pressing of the slat elevating and supporting ropes into and through the opening in the rigid wall of the latch housing causes the ropes to be gripped tightly between the upper acute or relatively sharp upper edge of the opening and the serrated face of the outer free end of the latch.

The several elements of the locking structure, due to their simple construction, can be readily and inexpensively stamped out of sheet metal and can be quickly assembled by inexpensive labor without sacrificing eillciency of the structure.

We claim:

1. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprisingra hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable vertically in said housing adjacent said wall and across said opening, and a latch pivotal- 1y mounted in said housing and adapted to be swung on its pivot by actuation of said rope said latch having a tree sharp angle end adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage and presssaid rope outwardly into said opening to force pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening above said end of said latch under impetus ail'orded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot and a second edge of said opening engaging said rope below said end of said latch and forcing said rope inwardly in a sharp reverse bend around said end of said latch under the weight of a portion of the rope depending from said latch end to prevent accidental release of said latch.

2. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable vertically in said housing adjacent said4 wall and across said opening, and a latch pivotally mounted in saidI housing and adapted to be swung on its pivot by actuation of said rope said latch having a free sharp angle end provided with a serrated face adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage and press said rope outwardly into said opening to force pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening above said end of said latch under impetus afforded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot and a second edge of said opening engaging said rope below said end of said latch and forcing said rope inwardly in a sharp reverse bend around said end of said latch under the weight of a DOrtion of the rope depending from said latch end to prevent accidental release of said latch.

3. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable in said housing adjacent said wall and across said opening, a latch pivotaliy mounted in said housing and having a free end adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage and press said rope into said opening to i'orce pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening under impetus afforded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot. and means for eilecting initial engagement of said i'ree end of said latch with said rope.

4. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable in said housing adjacent said wall and across said opening, a latch pivotally mounted in said housing and having a free end adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage. and press said rope into said opening to force pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening under impetus an'orded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot, and means controlled by said rope for eii'ecting initial engagement oi said free end of said latch with said rope.

5. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds com-l prising a hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable in said housing adjacent said wall and across said opening, a latch pivotally mounted in said housing and having a free end adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage and press said rope into said opening to force pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening under impetus aiorded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot, and a double arm lever pivoted in said housing and having one arm engaging said latch and the second arm engaged by said rope remote to said latch for eecting initial engagement of said free end of said latch with said rope.

6. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a hollow housing including a wall having an opening therein, a slat supporting rope movable in said housing adjacent said wall and across said opening, a latch pivotally mounted in said housing and having a free end adjacent said rope opposite said opening and adapted to engage and press said rope into said opening to force pinch and hold said rope against an acute edge of said opening under impetus aiorded by the weight of the supported slats swinging said latch on its pivot, a heel on said latch, and a double arm lever pivoted in said housing and having one arm adapted to engage said heel and a second arm having an eye adjacent its free end through which said rope passes for effecting initial engagement of said free end of said latch with said rope.

7. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a slat supporting rope, a fixed rope gripping element for and located at one side of said rope, a relatively movable gripping element at the opposite side of the rope in the form of a pivoted latch including laterally spaced side wings connected by a cross plate at the free end of the latch with the rear ends of the side wings having plain edges, a transversely extending pivot for said latch, a double arm lever pivoted on an axis parallel to and located below the latch pivot, said lever comprising one arm engaging the rear edges of the latch wings below the latch pivot and a second arm provided with an eye through which said rope extends below said latch.

8. A slat control unit for Venetian blinds comprising a slat supporting rope, a xed rope gripping element for and located at one side of said rope, a relatively movable gripping element at the opposite side of the rope in the form of a pivoted latch including laterally spaced side wings connected by a cross plate at the free en'd of the latch with the rear ends of the side wings having plan edges, a transversely extending pivot for said latch, a double arm lever pivoted on an axis parallel to and located below the latch pivot, said lever comprising one arm engaging the plain rear edges of said latch and a second arm provided with an eye through which said rope extends below said latch, said lever being formed of a plate constituting said arms and side wings bent at right angles to said plate and provided with openings through which the pivot of said lever extends.

WALTER J. STUBER. JOHN J. DI IENNO. 

